Tim Carman of the City Paper reported today that James Beard winning chef, R.J. Cooper has abruptly left Vidalia. Carman reported that Cooper would try to resurrect his celebrated “24″ tasting menu elsewhere while he prepares to open his own restaurant, Pigtails, a reference to his twin daughters and his love of pork products. He’s close to signing a deal on a neighborhood location away from downtown.

This has been a crazy week! PR representative Hisaoka Communications’ Kate Gibbs reported on Monday, not even a full month after the launch of Morso, the lauded Mediterranean restaurant that opened in mid-May on M Street, Executive Chef Ed Witt abruptly left the restaurant citing creative differences with its owner. The Georgetowner, reported that the chef would probably remain in the D.C. area. Morso has been forced to close while they search for a new executive chef. Morso Express, its less formal sister restaurant, will remain open.